Partnership with stakeholders in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), cybersecurity and other areas is a key objective of the Barbados Government’s plan to create an economy driven by digital technology.
This assurance has come from Senator Kay McConney, Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology.
Addressing the opening ceremony for the second Internet Governance Forum in Barbados, McConney said Government wanted to engage a wide range of local stakeholders, including those responsible for ICT development and cybersecurity.
“We are in the age of mass collaboration without boundaries,” McConney told attendees for the international conference organised by the Internet Society Barbados Chapter in partnership with Government.
She said Government’s vision was to create a “smart Barbados” that “harnesses the power of digital technology”.
The two-day event aims to explore how Barbados may make more effective use of the Internet across several sectors.
The Minister suggested that locally, her ministry wanted to involve the school system as well as the public sector, where a focus would be on increasing productivity by utilising technology.
At a regional level, Barbados would engage the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) “on policies that benefit us at a regional level”.
The Internet Society of Barbados Chapter on Wednesday presented awards to the family of late Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock and Ian Clarke-Worrell, a pioneer in bringing Internet services to Barbadians.
The Internet governance forum will discuss matters such as digital payments, social media, privacy and fake news and online protection of children. (HH)
